Since 2006, the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) has made forgivable loans to attorneys employed full-time by LSC-funded legal services programs (LSC grantees) to help them repay their law school debt. The Herbert S. Garten Loan Repayment Assistance Program1 (LRAP) helps LSC grantees recruit and retain qualified attorney staff. Attorneys selected for the program may receive forgivable loans for up to three (3) years depending on eligibility and available funding. For each annual term, the loan payment may be forgiven if the attorney remains eligible and employed during the entire annual cycle at the employing LSC grantee.

Beginning with the 2025 fiscal year, LSC will expand the program to permit LRAP recipients to utilize LRAP funds to also repay undergraduate debt. This Program Description applies to all applications submitted for the annual cycle that commences October 1, 2024. 

Depending on available funding, LSC may need to use a lottery system to select eligible attorneys (the actual number of loans made each year depends on available funding) to participate. Application submissions from eligible attorneys may outweigh the loans to be provided. Selected attorneys will receive an LRAP loan, which must be used during the 12 month LRAP cycle of October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025 to pay qualifying undergraduate and law school loans and accrued interest. If the selected attorney fully spends the LRAP funds on eligible loan payments and stays employed in good standing with a LSC grantee through the required twelve months from October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025, as certified by the Executive Director of the LSC grantee, then LSC will forgive the loan (presuming the participating attorney meets all other terms and conditions of the loan agreement). If the attorney does not comply with all of the LRAP requirements, then the entire loan must be paid back to LSC, unless LSC determines the participating attorney had good cause as described below (See Section II.F Loan Default). An attorney’s participation in the first year of the LRAP is based on eligibility demonstrated in the initial application and selection. To participate for a second and third year, the attorney must submit information demonstrating continued employment with the same LSC grantee and other eligibility requirements. 

If eligible, an attorney may participate in the second and third year even if the attorney’s net worth now exceeds the LRAP’s eligibility requirements. All loans are contingent upon available funds. There is no guarantee that an eligible attorney will receive funds for a second and third year. Attorneys are encouraged to apply in consecutive years. All selected attorneys must agree to participate in a closeout process, which includes providing proof of spending of the funds, completing a recipient certification, and completion of an Executive Director certification. All selected attorneys must also agree to participate in evaluation activities may include the completion of surveys and participation in interviews.

OVERVIEW - Borrower states and agrees to the following terms and conditions: I am a licensed attorney employed with the LSC grantee (“Grantee”) identified above, which is a legal aid organization receiving funds from the Legal Services Corporation. I unconditionally promise to pay to the Lender Legal Services Corporation (LSC) the loan principal amount (“Loan Principal”) disbursed to me under LSC’s Herbert S. Garten Loan Repayment Assistance Program (“LSC’s LRAP”), plus applicable interest due and all other costs and charges described in this Promissory Note no later than the end of the Employment Period stated above, unless said loan principal is forgiven. LSC will forgive some or all the Loan Principal (cancelling my obligation to pay that amount) if I meet the terms of this Promissory Note, including continued employment at the Grantee for the entire Employment Period and using all the loan funds for qualifying law school debt during the Employment Period.

I. LRAP PROGRAM DESCRIPTION - I have read the terms and conditions of LSC’s LRAP Program Description, fully understand them, and agree to them as terms and conditions of this Promissory Note, incorporated by this reference. Specifically, I understand and agree that to receive forgiveness, I must remain in full-time employment as a licensed attorney with the employing LSC grantee for the entirety of the LRAP loan term, I must spend the full LRAP on qualifying loans, and I must fully spend the funds during the LRAP loan term. Otherwise, I will be in default and must repay the full balance plus any accrued interest. See the full text of LSC’s LRAP Program Description included immediately following this Promissory Note.

1. Each applicant must submit a completed LRAP Application Form, and all required supporting documents and certifications by the appointed deadlines.
2. At the time of application, the applicant must be employed full-time or have a job offer from an LSC grantee organization with a start date of October 1, 2024, or earlier as a licensed attorney at an LSC grantee.
3. The participating attorney must remain in full-time employment with the employing LSC grantee for the entirety of the LRAP loan term for which they are applying (for the current cycle that would be October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2025).
4. At the time of the participating attorney’s initial application, the applicant must have a reasonable expectation of employment at the grantee for three years beginning October 1, 2024. For example, a June 2024 applicant interested in the 2025 award must have a reasonable expectation of employment at their current grantee from October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2027. Fellowship recipients or special-grant funded attorneys may apply for LRAP assistance provided they have a reasonable expectation of continued employment for the full three-year period, even if the fellowship or special-grant term lasts less than three years.
5. At the time of initial application, the applicant cannot have been employed as an attorney by a LSC grantee for more than five years (60 months cumulative).
6. At the time of initial application, the applicant must have a total outstanding debt of at least $75,000 in eligible law school loans (see Section II.B.1 Eligible Uses below).
7. At the time of initial application, the applicant may not have:
   1. previously received LRAP loans covering 36 months or more (cumulatively); or
   2. defaulted on a previous LRAP loan; or
   3. included a previously-received LRAP loan in any bankruptcy filing as a dischargeable debt.
8. The returning applicant may not have defaulted on a previous LRAP loan.
9. An applicant is not required to first apply to, and maximize participation in, any other loan repayment assistance program for which the applicant is eligible. The receipt of other loan repayment assistance will not decrease the amount of the LRAP. However, LSC requests information on the applicant’s participation in other loan repayment assistance programs for research purposes aimed at further improving LSC’s LRAP.
10. If selected, the applicant must execute an LRAP Promissory Note, as instructed through GrantEase, to receive a loan (see Section II.B.1 Eligible Uses below). A participating attorney will have to execute a new LRAP Promissory Note for each eligible year.   
11. Prior to receiving each loan payment, a participating attorney will provide LSC with an Executive Director Certification Form, executed by the Executive Director of the LSC grantee where the participating attorney is employed full-time as a licensed attorney, as directed through GrantEase.
12. Upon completing the eligibility term, the participating attorney must certify that LRAP funds were used to pay eligible undergraduate or law school loan debt during the LRAP cycle.
13. LSC uses direct deposit to make individual loan payments. If you have any concerns about the use of direct deposit, please reach out to LRAP@lsc.gov.

Submitting Law School Loan Documentation

To complete the application, ALL applicants must upload current undergraduate and law school loan documentation to the Attachments Tab > Attachments Section of the application record in GrantEase. 

Applicants are required to pull their loan documentation from Federal Student Aid, which will provide guidance on how to create an FSA ID with the Department of Education. Applicants can view their complete loan information, including a breakdown of all their loans (and a history of any loan consolidation). Applicants can find detailed information about accessing their loan documentation and which documents to submit in GrantEase in the 2025 LRAP Application Guide. 

The LRAP application is not complete until the applicant has uploaded their current loan documentation AND clicked Submit Application. 

Prior to accessing the application, new applicants must register in GrantEase and create an individual user account. 

All applicants need to have an account in LSC’s grants management system, GrantEase. New applicants will have to register for an account in GrantEase and returning applicants can use the same login information from prior applications. Please note it may takefrom 3-5 business days to complete the GrantEase account process. 

Applicants who already have an account from prior LSC LRAP years can access their account using the credentials previously created and can log in to update contact information. If you are locked out of your account, please email GrantEaseSupport@lsc.gov and someone will help you log in. 

Applicants who do not already have an account will be required to create an account in GrantEase, LSC’s grants management system, following these steps: 

1. Go to www.grantease.lsc.gov. 

2. In the top right-hand side of the screen, click on REGISTER. 

3. Select INDIVIDUAL. Please do not click on Organization. 

4. Click on BEGIN REGISTRATION. 

5. Enter your LSC grantee organization name (you can use the search tool to find name) 

6. Enter your LSC grant ID number. Use this list to find your LSC grantee’s ID: LSC's Grantees Six-Digit ID's 

7. Enter the Applicant Information, including name, address, phone numbers, and email addresses. 

8. If you are unable to add your name, this may be because you are not listed as a staff member in GrantEase, which could be because you 
have started after January 1. If this is the case, please reach out to LRAP@lsc.gov and we work with you to ensure you are added. 

9. Once finished adding information, check for accuracy and click SAVE and CONTINUE. 

10. You will receive a notification email about the status of your registration and next steps. 

NOTE: It may take 3-5 days for new applicants to complete their GrantEase individual user registration. Please plan accordingly. 

Returning applicants for the 2025 grant cycle should have received an email about the 2025 LRAP cycle on May 9, 2024. If you did not receive this email, please check your spam and trash folders before reaching out for assistance at LRAP@lsc.gov. 

Returning applicants will need to submit a full application and demonstrate continued employment with the same LSC grantee and continue to meet other eligibility requirements. There is no guarantee that an eligible attorney will receive funds for a second or third year. Returning applicants should refer to the 2025 LRAP Application Guide  for more information about eligibility, the LRAP process, and applying for an LRAP award.